Donna Hammond, PhD, professor of anesthesia and of neuroscience and pharmacology, has been named the Roy J. Carver Chair in the Iowa Neuroscience Institute. The five-year appointment recognizes Hammond's outstanding academic achievements and contributions to the Carver College of Medicine and the Iowa Neuroscience Institute.

 Donna Hammond, PhD

Hammond studies the neurobiology of the central and peripheral nervous system pathways that convey pain. Her lab is currently focused on understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the sensory consequences of chemotherapy, such as numbness, tingling, and shock- or burning-like pain, that patients experience both during and after chemotherapy. Hammond’s extensive publication and citation record reflect both the high quality of her scholarship and the recognition of her peers. She is vice chair for research in the Department of Anesthesia and a member of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.  In 2020 she earned a UI Diversity Catalyst Award for her efforts to promote an inclusive campus community.

The cross-disciplinary Iowa Neuroscience Institute was established in 2016 by a $45 million grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. Its mission is to conduct research to find causes of, and preventions, treatments, and cures for the many diseases that affect the brain and nervous system.